Kulluna, the Health and Safety initiative of Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Hamad International Training Center (HITC), recently took part in the 11th edition of Project Qatar to promote and educate residents about healthy living, heart health in particular, and to encourage regular health check-ups.

Kulluna, which is supported by founding sponsor ConocoPhillips, was one of the 2,100 exhibitors that took part in this year’s edition of the exhibition, held at the Qatar National Convention Center.

The ‘Kulluna for a Healthy Heart’ campaign focuses on several ways in which the risk of heart disease can be prevented and highlighted lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes as being key risk factors.

One of the important tips reinforced by Kulluna is to ‘know your numbers’, which is a way of describing a series of simple tests. These tests are often referred to as ‘know your numbers’ because the results are all given as numbers and mean a lot to healthcare providers.

The most common tests done during a “know your numbers” campaign are: heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol level. It is also common to have your weight and height checked and to be advised on your BMI (body mass index) level. Ensuring these numbers are within a healthy range means you are minimizing the risk of heart disease. Regular monitoring of these numbers will also enable you to take preventive measures before any health issues can develop.

The Kulluna stand at the exhibition was visited by more than 2,000 people. They were able to assess their basic health indicators through a checkup provided by medical professionals that included details such as weight, height, BMI, heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

The visitors were also handed an educational booklet outlining simple ways in which they can take care of their health.

HITC Director and Kulluna Chairman, Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen said: “Most people only have health check-ups when they are unwell and we are trying to break that pattern. At Kulluna we believe that knowing how healthy you are and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key to avoiding many potential health risks. ‘Kulluna for a Healthy Heart’ was one of our first campaigns and we are delighted to be able to participate in Project Qatar and use this platform to advise people about the various ways that they can take care of their health.”

ConocoPhillips Qatar President, Gary Sykes commented: “We are pleased to seize the opportunity of our participation at Project Qatar 2014 to promote health and safety and remind the large number of exhibitors and visitors of the importance of doing regular biometric check-ups that might save their lives.”

“The ‘know your numbers’ screening booths that are part of the ‘Kulluna for a Healthy Heart’ campaign constantly prove to be very popular wherever we take them and allow us to address an urgent need in the society which falls within the strategic pillar of Health and Safety championed by ConocoPhillips,” he added.